New Testament
2 Corinthians 6
Overview
As God's fellow worker, Paul appeals to the Corinthians not to receive the grace of God in vain, citing Isaiah 49:8—"Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (6:1-2). He commends his ministry by putting no obstacle in anyone's way, enduring a sweeping catalog of hardships—afflictions, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleeplessness, hunger—through purity, knowledge, patience, the Holy Spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God, with weapons of righteousness for both hands (6:3-7). He frames his life in striking paradoxes: through honor and dishonor, slander and praise, treated as impostors yet true, as dying yet alive, as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing everything (6:8-10). His heart is wide open to them, and he begs them to widen their own hearts in return, for he has restricted nothing toward them (6:11-13). The chapter closes with an urgent command: "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers," supported by a chain of Old Testament quotations and the promise that God will dwell among and be a Father to a separated, holy people (6:14-18).
1We then, as workers together with him , beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
2(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
3Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
4But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
5In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
6By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
7By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
8By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;
9As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;
10As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
11O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.
12Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.
13Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.
14Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them ; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing ; and I will receive you,
18And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.